An interview with Daw Hla May, 40, who escaped after being trapped in fighting for eight days in Pauktaw, Arakan State.
The military council and the Arakan Army (AA) have been fighting in Pauktaw for more than a month since the AA captured the Pauktaw myoma police station in Arakan State on 16 November. The Pauktaw battle has shown no signs of abating.
The military council is carrying out an offensive using ground, naval and air forces. More than 220 of the residents of Pauktaw who were trapped in the fighting were rescued by the AA on 21 and 22 November.
The Development Media Group (DMG) interviewed Daw Hla May, 40, who was trapped with 10 people, including her family, for eight days during the fighting and was freed on 22 November, about the current displacement situation, including what happened during the fighting.
Q: Tell me about the situation when you are stuck in Pauktaw.
A: I had to stay in my house as the situation was unstable on the camp-capture day. Due to the aerial bombardment, I moved to another house as my house is small. There is also a paralyzed grandmother and a woman in that house. There are 10 people there including my family. At first, I didn’t think it would be that much. We stayed there assuming that it would come to an end in about two days. When we were about to go out, the soldiers of the military council had already arrived.
Q: What difficulties did you face when you were caught in the middle of the battle?
A: I stayed in that house for eight days without food. I had to crouch under the house due to the airstrikes. When children cried, I had to shut their mouths. There was no one left in the ward. Only our family was trapped. He had not eaten a single meal since the day of the battle. I had to eat dry snacks and drink water. If the children were hungry, they had to eat tea powder without hot water.
Q: Did you try to run away?
A: When we were going to run away, we saw military council soldiers walking with guns on the road. We stayed indoors because we were afraid of being shot if we ran away. I tried to run away. But there are soldiers everywhere. There are many people who have been arrested. I was also afraid of being shot. Because of that, we stayed in the house. I didn’t sleep at night. The children also woke up when they heard the sound of heavy shells. I don’t get in touch with anyone on the phone.
Q: How did you escape from the battle?
A: The AA soldiers took up positions in front of our house. When my 2-year-old son cried, they knew there was someone in the house. When we were evacuating, they exchanged fire in front of us, and one AA member was killed. The AA came to rescue us in the middle of the battle. We were rescued from the side of the cemetery as the military council soldiers were present at the monastery and the road. After that, the rescue teams came to pick us up by car. They served meals. We were also sent to the displacement places by boats.
Q: How do you stay in the existing place?
A: I have livelihood difficulties. I don’t know when I will return to my town. The children also want to go home. I am not in good health. I want to go back to my house. At home, I feel good eating rice even with salt. I face livelihood difficulties staying here. My money has run out as the prices are also rising. There are no blankets. I feel sorry to see my children without a blanket when they are cold. I want to stay in my own home with my family.
Q: What else would you like to add?
A: I am in big trouble due to fighting. If there’s no fight, that’s fine. I am saddened to see the burning almost every day in Pauktaw.
Q: Thank you for your answer.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)